Poll: Mexican Grand Prix 2017, Mexico City - Race 18/20

[dalin80]

Lewis has won 3 of the last 4 titles. If he carries on winning at this ratio Hamilton Mercedes continue to produce a worthy car who knows where he could end up.

Can't see it lasting, This year alone the Ferrari has been consistently faster and Vettel would still have the lead if it wasn't for brainfarts. Added to that the Red Bull is now much more improved and capable of really pushing in conditions the Merc struggles in. But that's the rub, Lewis lost last year due to engine failures and he has won this year due to Ferrari team failures (plus some very consistent top class driving to optimise it).

He would have walked away in 2012 with the championship with several races to go if it weren't for mechanical failures while in the lead but in that case he may have stayed with McLaren and this past few years would have far more swear-filter spamming.

 

[Glaucus]

Ham is the only driver to still have finished every racing lap this season i believe, and he has finished them all in the points.

nope, he was lapped this race.

 

[MooMoo444]

Vettel is past his best, but might have a season left in him if his car has advantage.

He was 50 ahead at one point this year, don't know how you can say he's past it.

 

[utajoker]

looks like Ham has some decent damage to his diffuser from Teds pictures.

 

[Flibster]

Ted with his spy shots of the diffuser damage. Would like to see some shots of the floor in front of the wheel too.

 

[drunkenmaster]

Ted with his spy shots of the diffuser damage. Would like to see some shots of the floor in front of the wheel too.

I was a little surprised, from the front i kept trying to see it during the race, it wasn't obviously damaged and it's thin so usually it's just not there or it's basically fine.

The thing is, you can lose 20 seconds in the race due to having a tire destroyed and trashing your car as you push hard to get to the pits or you go ultra slow to the pits, get less car damage but lose 20 seconds getting to the pits anyway. Ham came out 25 seconds behind Vettel despite Vettel having a long front wing changing pitstop himself so his lap took what, 35 seconds longer or so because it wasn't the quickest pitstop from Ferrari for that nose change.

But it's just a weird weird track, no grip, no air, highest downforce of the year despite not looking like a track that would need it and diffuser pretty much most important piece of aero on the car for traction for the rears which is critical here.

Felt like to compensate for lack of downforce he was spending a few laps charging battery to absolute max then doing a full energy deploy lap, hence a few laps at a time even dropping back a bit then burning out and pushing hard and making the pass.

But as I said earlier, the biggest difference was Vettel was facing the slow cars at first then by the time he caught faster cars they were cars on older ultras they started on. First car Ham came across was a top 10 Renault and he had pitted also, so worst possible situation.

 

[4K8KW10]

Since July, Seb hasn't won a single Grand Prix Complete disaster...... and how the Year of 2017 began, so promising and everything looked well.



Seb seriously needs some specialists to help him to keep his emotions sane and prevent him from overreacting

Nonetheless, he is still victorious on one vote:

 

[Flibster]

Eh? Vettel driver of the day?

Ferrari fans out in force it seems today then.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

The driver of the day vote has always been farsical.

 

[dalin80]

Eh? Vettel driver of the day?

Ferrari fans out in force it seems today then.

Well Hamilton didn't have a great race, possibly due to all that diffuser damage we have just seen and Verstappen achieved the coveted 'racing with zero opposition' high while holding off the always inspiring Bottas so there wasn't really an awful lot of choice.

 

[Flibster]

I voted Ocon tbh.

 

[awaybreaktoday]

Next season is going to be extremely interesting....

 

[Destination]

He was 50 ahead at one point this year, don't know how you can say he's past it.

I do not think he is past it.
I think he is past his best.
I think hamilton is also past his best.

 

[Saffy]

I voted Ocon tbh.

There's a lot of talk about Max being a future champ and what have you but I think Ocon is someone who will end up giving Max a real hard time when the oldies retire in a few years time. Ocon's performances in a mediocre car quite exceptional, not forgetting his consistency. The future of F1 is bright.

 

[steve45]

I think hamilton is also past his best.

I dont agree, I think he's driving the best he ever has, he has been more aggressive in his younger years, but he has matured and so has his driving.

 

[Flibster]

There's a lot of talk about Max being a future champ and what have you but I think Ocon is someone who will end up giving Max a real hard time when the oldies retire in a few years time. Ocon's performances in a mediocre car quite exceptional, not forgetting his consistency. The future of F1 is bright.

Ocon's also pretty quiet about it, other than when his team mate is pushing him into the wall repeatedly...

 

[UTmaniac]

Very dull race after first few corners, biggest highlight for me from there to the end was Alonso thinking about colliding with Hamilton.

 

[4K8KW10]

McLaren have a better chassis than Mercedes. Was clearly visible in the corners sections and breaking zones.

I think there must be NO summer break from the end of July till end of August.
Instead, they should make compromises and include more European races - France and Germany 100%.
They should include also 2 races in Africa, 1 in the North, maybe Marrakesh and another 1 in South Africa.
India and South Korea should be returned.
The calendar should be towards 25 races per year.

Also, the first race in Australia must be around 10th to 15th March, and not the end of March.

 

[el_dazza]

Since July, Seb hasn't won a single Grand Prix Complete disaster...... and how the Year of 2017 began, so promising and everything looked well.



Seb seriously needs some specialists to help him to keep his emotions sane and prevent him from overreacting

Nonetheless, he is still victorious on one vote:

Who are Vater Botas and Max Verstatin?

 

[drunkenmaster]

McLaren have a better chassis than Mercedes. Was clearly visible in the corners sections and breaking zones.

You mean the damaged car of Hamilton......

Also, I'll never understand why people believe more downforce = better chassis. Every track in the year isn't highest downforce track, the best chassis is the one that does the best across THE SEASON, not one track. Highest downforce might make you the best at 3 tracks, average at 10, poor in 7. Mercedes has had the best chassis for 4 years precisely because it's strong enough at the highest downforce tracks, and it's exceptional in both medium and low downforce tracks.